China's JD.com invited to attend Thailand's e-commerce week

BANGKOK - Thailand's digital economy body is inviting China's e-commerce giant JD.com, also known as Jingdong, to the country's incoming e-commerce week, said an official on Tuesday.

"As a highlight of the event this year, we are honored by speakers from leading Thai and foreign e-commerce companies, especially Richard Liu, chairman and CEO of China's second largest e-commerce platform, to impart e-commerce techniques, digital business branding and digital marketing to local e-commerce businesses," said Surangkana Wayuparb, director of Electronic Transactions Development Agency under Ministry of Digital Economy and Society at a news briefing.

"Since he has set sights on making Thailand a major hub for his e-commerce expansion plan in Southeast Asia, we are looking forward to seeing how he will work together with local business and empower them with JD's experience and technologies," said the director.

JD.com recently reached agreement with Thailand's Central Group to form a $500 million joint venture in e-commerce and financial technology.

Surangkana said the event, scheduled from Nov 24 to Nov 26 for the second year, is aimed to be a platform for potential Thai e-commerce players to acquire cutting-edge e-commerce information and to find their business partners.

The growth of e-commerce market in 2016 leaps 14 percent in Thailand, a country of which the annual growth hovers over 10 percent, making the event this year much-anticipated, said Surangkana.

The ministry of digital economy and society will make an e-directory, an e-commerce guideline collecting lists and specialities of credible relevant businesses. There is also a showcase for the successful local online store. There will be areas for sale of SMEs products that focus on online marketing. The online voting for Thailand e-Commerce Awards 2017 will also be launched.

According to data from the ministry, major retailers and consumers are increasingly interested in e-commerce, totaling a value of 2.5 trillion Baht ($73.5 billion).

Thailand has the highest value in retail e-commerce among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members. However, internet retail sales in Thailand represented only 1 percent of total retail.